Prophecy of Ezekiel

Study of the book of Ezekiel with audio option
http://www.preachtheword.com/studies/ssezek.html

Outline: The first and major part of the book of Ezekiel (from chapters 1:1-33:21) covers almost eight years of things related to the last days of Jerusalem before the destruction by the Babylonians. From the fifth year of Zedekiah which is also the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin or second stage of the captivity. Which is the commencement of the chronological dates given in the book. It encompasses visions from the fifth year of Zedekiah's reign which is also the fifth year of Jehoichin's captivity and extends to the twelveth year and tenth month. The events encompassed are from the said fifth year (which is also the thirtieth year of Ezeliel's life) to a full year and a half after the destruction of Jerusalem in 585 BCE recorded in chapter 33:21 about 583 BCE. Most of the prophecies in this section deal with the coming siege of Jerusalem and the horrors to be visited on the citizens by the Babylonians. There is an interruption at the time when the siege is well under way and about one year before its overthrow and Ezekiel discontinues his prophecies about Jerusalem which by him, and perhaps by YHWH, is now abandoned to its fate. (The time of the abandonment ought to correspond with the departure of the Glory of the Lord or Shekinah from the temple and the land described in chapter 11.) Leaving Jerusalem behind begins in Chapter 25. In this interum (25 to 33:21) Ezekiel turns his attention to prophecies of the future of the nations round about Judah. Ammon, Moab, Edom are given small portions and then lengthy descriptions of the Phonecians (Tyre) and Egypt are given in several chapters each. There is then a return to receiving the news of the fall of Jerusalem in 33:21.

A mixed section follows with further condemnation of the priesthood that is a warning to those who in the future after the restoration will turn away from the cleansing that the priesthood would receive in the days of Ezra. There is also the promise of the restoration of the nation in 36 and 37 when a golden age would come during which the Messiah would come. There was a purity that was enjoyed by the prieshood through most of the "silent years." That purity was lost about the time of Antiochus IV about 180 BCE and there was a return to the corruption of the priesthood which had previously resulted in the overthrow of Jerusalem and the seventy years of captivity. Zechariah predicted this reversion (in Zechariah 11) to follow the "Golden age" of the "silent years" and the return to the same corruptive practices of the pre-exile priesthood.

Then a picture of a latter day event in Chapters 38 and 39 are unique to this book; no other book in the O.T. speaks of the battle of Armageddon, and is included in this place because there is one more future attack coming on the true Zion (the Church of Christ) led by the Prince of Ros or the Russian nation. Interesting to this is the fact that Ezekiel does not mention the future destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD since earthly Jerusalem was no longer Zion. This section was composed and written in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, U.K. in 1988. The Roman destruction of Jerusalem is predicted inDaniel 9 as a result of rejecting the Messiah.

From chapter 40 to the end of the book the restoration of the nation and the temple and the return of the Shekinah to the temple is described. There, symbolic, euphemistic and mystical visions describe the temple from its rebuilding to its trancendent move to heaven itself. See a further more detaileddescription here.

Dating: There are two important "Exiles" in Old Testament Jewish history. The first was accomplished in the rise of the Assyrian Empire culminating about 722 BCE. The capture and distributing of the northern Kingdom of Israel with their associated tribes, sometimes called the "Lost Ten Tribes, into the mountains of Medea was accomplished. The exile was actually accomplished in three stages. The tribes east of the Jordan were taken first, before 740 BCE then the region of Galilee shortly after 740 BCE and finally the main region with its capital at Samaria fell in 722 BCE. Isaiah was the major prophet of the period and his life was contemporary with the exile of the "Ten Tribes". Much of the history of the Assytrian conquest of the Kingdom of Istrael is recorded in chapters 7-12 in Isaiah

Babylonian Exile of The Judeans
Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel were contemporary prophets of the Babylonian Exile. About one hundred twenty years after the loss of the Kingdom of Israel, which was witnessed by Isaiah and finalized in 722 BCE, the second (Babylonian) exile of the Jews and their associated tribes was also accomplished in three stages. 606 BCE marks the beginning or first stage of the Babylonian exile in which Daniel, among others, first went captive. Then about seven years later in 599 BCE the second stage included Ezekiel among the captives. The third stage came beginning with the siege about 588 BCE and destruction of Jerusalem, in 585 BCE. Ezekiel was among the exiles in Babylon about 200 miles north of present Baghdad. Jeremiah prophecied, beginning with the thirteenth year of Josiah, while living in Jerusalem before, up to and after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Thus he was a contemporary and eye witness during Zedekiah's eleven year reign. His ministry spanned the lives of five kings of Judah. Ezekiel lived among the captives and was an "eye witness" in visions. He was carried, against his will to Jerusalem then returned to the captives to report what he had seen and to make it absolutely clear that Jerusalem would be destroyed.

The dating of events related to both exiles of first: the so called Ten Tribes of Israel by the Assyrians and second: the exile of Judah and associated tribes by the Babylonians are able to be dated. But there is more than one chronology but the chronologies differ usually only by a year or two for the main events. We have chosen to be consistent by following one chronology. These dates may vary by a year or so. Some of the major events and the dates ascribed to them are:

The fall of Samaria to Sargon II 722 BCE
The exile of Judah was in three stages
The first stage when Nebuchadnezzar took Jerusalem in the third year of Jehoiakim: 606 BCE
The second stage when Jehoiachin was led captive and Ezekiel was a captive participant: 599-598 BCE
The fifth year Jehoiachin's captivity and beginning of the Prophecy of Ezekiel: 595-596 BCE
The departure of the Shekinah from the Temple: 586 BCE
The third stage, destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem 585 BCE
The end of the Seventy years of Captivity and decree of Cyrus 536 BCE
The first year of Darius I 521 BCE
The return of the Shekinah to the second temple 516 BCE
The dedication of the second Temple (Sixth year of Darius) 515 BCE

Ezekiel dates the prophecies he received, beginning with the first verse of his book. See the chart that gives the dates and where they are found in the text.Click here.

Read details http://www.moellerhaus.com/Ezekielcom/ezekcommentary.htm

Ezekiel 4 prophesy The Return of Israel ... May 14, 1948

 http://www.alphanewsdaily.com/mathprophecy2.html

"For I am God and there is no other.

I am God, and there is none like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

and from ancient times

things that are not yet done . . ."

(Isaiah 46:9-10)

You are about to read one of the most fascinating and remarkable prophecies in the Bible.  What makes it even more remarkable is what it implies.  For when we realize how precisely this prophecy has been fulfilled after 2,500 years, we must realize all the Bible prophecies concerning Israel and the world including the coming 'Apocalypse,' the Battle of Armageddon, Messiah's Return, and the many promises and warnings concerning both Heaven and Hell will be fulfilled just as accurately and literally as the amazing prophecy presented here ... 

The Prophecy ...  Ezekiel 4:4-6

 "Then God said to Ezekiel,

  'Now lie on your left side for 390 days

   to show Israel will be punished for 390 years

   by captivity and doom. 

   Each day you lie there represents

   a year of punishment ahead for Israel. 

   Afterwards, turn over and lay on your right side

   for 40 days, to signify the years of Judah's punishment.

   Each day will represent one year . . .'"

   (Ezekiel 4:4-6)

This Is A Mathematical Bible Prophecy . . .

Although a little obscure (and sophisticated) this is one of the most fascinating prophecies found in the Bible.

Here, we find God telling Ezekiel that each day he (Ezekiel) lies on his side will represent one year of punishment for the nation Israel (Israel + Judah) because of their iniquities (sins) against God . . .

So, we have:

      390  days    Judgment against the 10 northern tribes 'Israel'
  +    40  days    Judgment against the 2 southern tribes 'Judah'

  =  430  years   Judgment against the nation of Israel

The Fulfillment of the Prophetic Judgment Begins . . .

In 606 B.C. Israel (Judah) was taken into captivity by Babylon for exactly 70 years ...

      430  years of judgment determined against nation Israel
  -    70   years fulfilled during the Babylonian captivity

  =  360  years remaining in judgment against the nation of Israel

The Mystery of 360 Years . . .

There should have been a total of 360 years left in judgment against Israel after their release from Babylonian captivity by the Persian general Cyrus, exactly 70 years after the Babylonian captivity began (just as the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied before the captivity) ... but wherewas the remaining 360 year judgment in Israel's history??!!

The 7X Factor of God's Judgment . . .

Bible scholars could not find any specific captivity or dispersion that fulfilled these 360 years left in the judgment until a close look in the book of Leviticus revealed a startling prophetic warning ...

 "And after all this, if you do not obey Me,

   then I (God) will punish you seven times more for your sins."

   (Leviticus 26:18)

 "Then, if you walk contrary to Me,

   and are not willing to obey Me,

   I (God) will bring on you seven times more plagues,

   according to your sins."

   (Leviticus 26:21)

 "And after all this,

   if you do not obey Me,

   but walk contrary to Me,

   then I (God) also will walk contrary to you in fury;

   and I, even I will chastise you seven times for your sins.:

   (Leviticus 26:27-28)

 "I (God) will scatter you among the nations

   and draw a sword after you;

   your Land shall be desolate

   and your cities waste."

   (Leviticus 26:33)

The 7X factor of God's judgment against nation Israel.  God warned Israel if they continued in their disobedience He would multiply their judgment by seven times!  Remember, as noted throughout these prophetic studies, God says what He means and He means what He says!

Prophecy Fulfilled . . .

Now, let's apply the 7X factor to the remaining 360 years of judgment against nation Israel in this remarkable mathematical prophecy . . .

        360   Remaining years of judgment

      x    7   The prophetic '7X' factor

 =  2,520   Years of judgment remained against nation Israel

God gave the Jews the most sophisticated calendar on Earth.  It is both a Lunar and a Solar calendar.  The Jewish calendar uses a 360 day lunar (and prophetic) year and then adds a 'Leap Month' on specific years to accurately coincide with the Solar cycle we use on our 'Julian' calendar ...

The Bible uses 360 day years for prophecies and expects us to add the appropriate 'leap months' on schedule.  So, the easiest way to unravel this prophecy is to first convert this prophecy intodays ...

         2,520  years

       x   360  days

 =  907,200  days of judgment remained against nation Israel after the Babylonian captivity

Now, to convert the 907,200 days found in this prophecy into our 365.25 day solar (Julian) years (the .25 adjusts for leap years) . . .

     907,200 days  ÷  365.25  days  =   2,483.78 years of God's judgment remained

With this information, let's look at this remarkable prophecy again . . .

        606  B.C         Israel taken into Babylonian captivity
    -     70  Years      for 70 years

  =   536   B.C.        End of first 70 years of judgment

  + 2483   Years      Now add the 2,483 years remaining in this judgment

  +       1   Year        Add 1 year because there is no "0" B.C. or A.D.

  = 1948   AD!         End of judgment against nation Israel

Israel Back in Her Land as a Nation . . . in 1948!

Judah (Israel) was taken into captivity by the Babylonians in 606 B.C.  They were released from captivity 70 years later by the Persians in 536 A.D., exactly as the prophet Jeremiah had prophesied, but their land was still under the control of the Persians.  The Persians were later conquered by the Greeks, and the land of Israel remained under Greek control.  The Greeks were then conquered by Rome and the land of Israel remained under Roman control.  After failed rebellions against Rome around 70 A.D. and another around 100 years later, the Romans removed the Jews from the land of Israel, dispersed them around the world and then renamedthe land 'Palestine' after the enemies of Israel.  Then, after 2,500 years, and for the first time since the Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C., the world watched as Israel once again appeared on the world map as a sovereign nation, on May 14, 1948 ... exactly when the Bible said it would!

What is significant about Israel becoming a nation in 1948?

It fulfilled such prophecies as Ezekiel 36 and 37 and heralded the soon end of the age. Palestine was a desert land before Israel recently made it "like the garden of Eden."

Ezekiel 36:33-35 (ASV) Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be builded. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, whereas it was a desolation in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.

What is the connection between the measuring of the temple in Ezekiel 40 and Israel becoming a nation?

Ezekiel 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children's children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever.

Eze 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

Eze 37:27-28 My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

The prophecy of Ezekiel 36 and 37 about the return of Israel to her own land flows naturally into the subject of the rebuilding of the temple in Ezekiel 40. Simply put, Israel is not fully restored until God Himself sits within His temple in Jerusalem. Thus, there needs to be a temple. The temple is the climax of a restored Israel.